2014 Contract Negotiations

Dates set for Negotiations with OPSEU 102 - July 23, 2015

Negotiations between Western and OPSEU Local 102, which represents 11 members of the University’s special police constables, are slated to begin Aug. 11 and 14 with the assistance of a Conciliator. At the request of the University, the Ontario Labour Board has appointed a conciliator to assist the two sides to reach an agreement. The contract with Local 102 expired June 30.

Today Western’s Board of Governors approved a new five-year contract with International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE), which represents 13 Operating Engineers engaged primarily in Western’s main power and remote stations. The members of Local 772 had ratified the agreement June 23. The agreement provides for a one per cent increase in the base salary for each of the five years of the contract. Negotiations started in May and the agreement was reached without the assistance of a provincially-appointed conciliator.

Tentative agreement reached with IUOE - June 13, 2015

Western University and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) reached a tentative five-year agreement Thursday. IUOE Local 772 represents the 13 Operating Engineers engaged primarily in Western’s main power plant and remote stations. The agreement still needs to be ratified by both the union membership and Western’s Board of Governors and that process is expected to take place in the next two week.

Board ratifies new UWOFA collective agreement – Nov. 25, 2014

Today, Western's Board of Governors ratified a new four-year collective agreement with the University’s Faculty Association (UWOFA) which represents about 1,627 faculty members of whom 1,032 are full-time probationary or tenured, 202 are full-time limited-term, and 393 are part-time.

The agreement was ratified by 93% of UWOFA members during voting between Nov. 19-21 and Nov. 24.

As part of the new agreement, UWOFA members will receive a salary scale increase of 1.25 per cent in the first year and 1 percent annually for the remaining three years. UWOFA’s last agreement expired June 30, 2014.

PMA agreement ratified – Nov. 20, 2014

Earlier today, Western's Board of Governors approved a new four-year agreement with the University's Professional and Managerial Association (PMA). The PMA represents about 1,200 full-time employees engaged in managerial and professional roles at Western.

As part of the new agreement, PMA members will receive a salary scale increase of 1.25 in the first year and 1 percent annually for the remaining three years. PMA members ratified the agreement on Nov. 18, with 97 percent voting in favour. The PMA’s last agreement expired Oct. 31.

Tentative agreement reached with Faculty Union - Nov. 12

Western University and the Faculty Association (UWOFA) have reached a tentative four-year agreement. UWOFA represents about 1,627 faculty members of whom 1,032 are full-time probationary or tenured, 202 are full-time limited-term, and 393 are part-time.

Details of the agreement won't be released until after the agreement has been ratified by the Association and Western’s Board of Governors. A ratification vote by UWOFA members will be scheduled shortly.

UWOFA and the University have been negotiating a new agreement since May to replace the previous four-year contract that expired on June 30, 2014.

Negotiations continue with UWOFA - Nov. 9

Negotiations to renew the faculty collective agreement between Western’s Faculty Association (UWOFA) and the University are slated to continued tomorrow, Nov. 11 and 12. The provincially-appointed Labour Board Conciliation Officer is scheduled to participate on Nov. 12 to assist the two sides to reach an agreement.

Ninety per cent of those who cast a vote in UWOFA’s strike vote held Oct. 20-24 voted in favour of strike action. Holding a strike vote is a normal step in the collective bargaining process and a successful strike vote does not necessarily mean there will be a strike. However, UWOFA is now in a position to call a strike without further consultation with its members if the Ontario Ministry of Labour issues a ‘no board’ report. Both UWOFA and the University can request a ‘no board’ report be issued as part of the conciliation process. Information on the collective bargaining process can be found at www.uwo.ca/faculty_staff/negotiations/faqs.html

UWOFA represents 1,627 faculty members of whom 1,032 are full-time probationary or tenured, 202 are full-time limited-term, and 393 are part-time.

Western’s contract with UWOFA expired June 30 and the University and UWOFA have been in collective bargaining since mid-May. In this time, there have been more than 30 meetings and tentative agreement has been reached on a number of issues.

The University remains fully committed to reaching an agreement at the table that is both reasonable and responsible, considering the economic constraints currently facing Ontario post-secondary institutions.

Negotiations continue with UWOFA - Nov. 5

Negotiations to renew the faculty collective agreement between Western’s Faculty Association (UWOFA) and the University continued yesterday (Nov. 4). Additional meetings are planned for today and tomorrow (Nov. 5 and 6) with a provincially-appointed Labour Board Conciliation Officer scheduled to participate to assist the two sides to reach an agreement. This follows two meetings with the Conciliation Officer last week (Oct. 29 and 31).

Ninety per cent of those who cast a vote in UWOFA’s strike vote held Oct. 20-24 voted in favour of strike action. Holding a strike vote is a normal step in the collective bargaining process and a successful strike vote does not necessarily mean there will be a strike. However, UWOFA is now in a position to call a strike without further consultation with its members if the Ontario Ministry of Labour issues a ‘no board’ report. Both UWOFA and the University can request a ‘no board’ report be issued as part of the conciliation process. Information on the collective bargaining process can be found at www.uwo.ca/faculty_staff/negotiations/faqs.html

UWOFA represents 1,627 faculty members of whom 1,032 are full-time probationary or tenured, 202 are full-time limited-term, and 393 are part-time.

Western’s contract with UWOFA expired June 30 and the University and UWOFA have been in collective bargaining since mid-May. In this time, there have been more than 30 meetings and tentative agreement has been reached on a number of issues.

The University remains fully committed to reaching an agreement at the table that is both reasonable and responsible, considering the economic constraints currently facing Ontario post-secondary institutions.

UWOFA sets strike vote dates for faculty – Oct. 14

Holding a strike vote is a normal step in the collective bargaining process. A successful strike vote does not necessarily mean there will be a strike, but it would put UWOFA in a position to call a strike without further consultation with its members if the Ontario Ministry of Labour issues a ‘no board’ report. Both UWOFA and the University can request a ‘no board’ report be issued as part of the conciliation process. Information on the collective bargaining process can be found at www.uwo.ca/faculty_staff/negotiations/faqs.html

Talks between UWOFA and Western's administration are planned for today (Oct. 14) and Oct. 27. Two meetings are scheduled with the assistance of a Labour Board Conciliation Officer on Oct. 29 and 31. Further bargaining dates in November have been set, in the event they are needed.

UWOFA represents 1,627 faculty members of whom 1,032 are full-time probationary or tenured, 202 are full-time limited-term, and 393 are part-time.

Western’s contract UWOFA expired June 30 and the University and UWOFA have been in collective bargaining since mid-May. In this time, there have been 28 meetings and tentative agreement has been reached on a number of issues.

The University remains fully committed to reaching an agreement at the table that is both reasonable and responsible, considering the economic constraints currently facing Ontario post-secondary institutions.

Conciliator named for negotiations with UWOFA – Oct. 6

The Ontario Ministry of Labour has named Greg Long as the conciliator to meet with representatives from Western and the University’s Faculty Association (UWOFA) and assist with negotiations.

On Sept. 16, UWOFA filed an application with the Ministry, asking that a conciliator be appointed to assist with contract negotiations, a common practice in University sector labour negotiations. Conciliation is a process through which either a union or employer can apply to the Ministry of Labour for help in resolving differences between the two parties so they can reach a collective agreement.

UWOFA represents 1,627 faculty members of whom 1,032 are full-time probationary or tenured, 202 are full-time limited-term, and 393 are part-time.

Western’s contract with the Faculty Association (UWOFA) expired June 30 and the University and UWOFA have been in collective bargaining since mid-May. In this time, there have been more than 25 meetings and tentative agreement has been reached on a number of issues.

Conciliation dates have been set for Oct. 29 and 31. In the meantime, negotiations are continuing with several dates scheduled for this month.

The University is optimistic a negotiated settlement can be reached with UWOFA that is both reasonable and responsible, given the economic constraints currently facing Ontario post-secondary institutions.

Faculty Association requests conciliation – Sept. 22

Western’s contract with the Faculty Association (UWOFA) expired June 30 and the University and UWOFA have been in collective bargaining since May 22. In this time, there have been 24 meetings and tentative agreement has been reached on a number of issues.

UWOFA represents 1,627 faculty members of whom 1,032 are full-time probationary or tenured, 202 are full-time limited-term, and 393 are part-time.

On Sept. 16, UWOFA filed an application with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, asking that a conciliator be appointed to assist with contract negotiations, a common practice in University sector labour negotiations.

Multiple bargaining dates have been scheduled in September and October, and the University is optimistic a negotiated settlement can be reached with UWOFA that is both reasonable and responsible, given the economic constraints currently facing Ontario post-secondary institutions.

Western's Board of Governors approved a new four-year collective agreement Thursday with CUPE Local 2692, which represents approximately 630 hospitality service workers.

At a union meeting, Aug. 6, the employees voted 99 percent in favour of ratifying Western’s contract offer. These employees work as food services assistants, food supervisors, cooks, and chefs. Their contract expired June 30.

The agreement provides the employees with annual increases of 1.25 percent in the first year and one percent in each subsequent year of the agreement.

Update on Western, Hospitality Services negotiations - July 31, 2014

Western University and CUPE Local 2692, which represents approximately 630 hospitality service workers, reached a tentative contract agreement Thursday, July 31, 2014.

The negotiating teams have agreed to recommend the tentative agreement to their respective parties and to keep the terms of the settlement confidential until ratification by members and the Board of Governors is complete. Local 2692 has scheduled a meeting for Aug. 6, 8 p.m. at the Labatt Health Science building. The Board of Governors next scheduled meeting is Sept. 23.

Update on Western, Hospitality Services negotiations - July 31, 2014

Negotiations between Western University and CUPE Local 2692 are scheduled to resume today, July 31. The union represents approximately 630 food services assistants, food supervisors, cooks, chefs and food stores persons in Western’s Hospitality Services department.

On July 22, at the request of the University, The Ontario Ministry of Labour issued a ‘no board’ report, establishing August 8 as the earliest date that a strike or lockout can be called.

CUPE Local 2692 is holding an information meeting for its members on August 6 at 8 p.m. (Labatt Health Sciences Building).

"The University values the contribution of these employees, who are an important part of the Western student experience, and we remain hopeful today's negotiations will bring us closer to an agreement,” says Helen Connell, Western’s Associate Vice-President, Communications & Public Affairs. “However, the University has a responsibility to ensure we meet the needs of our campus community, particularly the more than 5,000 new students coming in to our residences. To that end, contingency planning is well underway.

”The contract with the hospitality workers expired June 30, 2014 and negotiations to reach a new agreement began May 26, 2014.

Update on Western, Hospitality Services negotiations - July 17, 2014

Western requested on Tuesday that the Ontario Ministry of Labour issue a ‘no board’ report in relation to negotiations between the University and CUPE Local 2692, which represents approximately 630 hospitality workers.The request for the no board report means 17 days after it is issued, a legal strike, or lockout, can be called. The 630 unionized employees work as food services assistants, food supervisors, cooks and chefs in Western’s Hospitality Services department. The union has called a membership meeting for early August.“Western values the contribution of these employees and the administration is fully committed to achieving a negotiated settlement,” said Helen Connell, associate vice-president, Communications and Public Affairs.Connell said, while the university is willing to return to the negotiations table at any time, contingency planning is underway should there be a labour disruption.The contract with the hospitality workers expired June 30 and negotiations to reach a new agreement began May 26.

Food Services Negotiations update – July 4, 2014

Negotiations between Western University and CUPE Local 2692 are underway. The union represents 629 food services assistants, food supervisors, cooks, chefs and food stores persons in Western’s Hospitality Services department. The two sides met on May 26 and June 5. At the request of the union, the two sides will meet with a conciliator on July 10. The union’s last collective agreement expired on June 30, 2014.